Should I add vitamins to Bravo Raw??

[paulabeans]

Hello all! Haven't posted in a while...hope everyone is doing well.

I have started Molly on the Bravo whole ground rabbit again. I stopped it last year due to a bout of bloody diarrhea that was either colitis or food related. She just does so much better with her itching and paw-chewing when she is on the raw appicon

I am wondering if I need to supplement with any vitamins as she is just getting only the whole ground rabbit. I am giving her the Animal Essentials Probiotic powder that I put on top of her food. The supplier who gets me the Bravo recommended probiotics for good digestion.

Well, I do appreciate any input you might have!

Thanks,
Paula

[gmacleod]

Ordinarily with raw, I'd say no. If you're feeding a balanced diet, then there's no need to add supplements. Or put a different way - vitamins and minerals are far better consumed in a natural state than as supplements (aside from any issues about too much/little, in the natural state absorbancy is around 80% versus around 20% as supplements).

However, in this particular case, it may not be a bad idea. Or at least, it's not a bad idea if you're planning on feeding rabbit only for an extended period. One single meat type doesn't make a balanced diet ;) So unless you're likely to be adding more meats into her diet in the near future, then a multivitamin can be a good idea.

[citygirl]

I feed my girls Bravo chicken. I only use the chicken because I have found that they don't tolerate other types of meat very well. I add a good vitamin/mineral supplement to their food once a day to better balance their nutrition because they are only getting the one type of meat.

[paulabeans]

Thanks gwyn and citygirl! I am now going to research the multivitamins...I have to choose something that doesn't have any ingredients that may cause allergies.

[franp]

Hi Paula,

Good to hear from you and I am glad that Molly is feeling better...

Dari does not get vitamins.. but she is on a varied diet...

Did you know that there is a store in Huntington named Amerlino's doing raw now?? and at a much lower cost than Bravo... The only negative is that the bone to meat ratio is 50%... so, the people I know mix some meat in.. I don't know if they have rabbit... you might want to try them...They are butchers who have branched out..to dog/cat food..

As for vitamins.. Natures pharmacy is supposed to have a good product.. on line and if you can they are very helpful.. And as always, Whiskers..But Phil will try and sell you the entire store:lol: He is a good source for product...

[Chris&Eti]

... The only negative is that the bone to meat ratio is 50%...

They've change the ratio-I guess due to customer demand- I think its 60% now. I know they don't have rabbit -but they do have lamb, buffalo, chicken that are just meat and bone-no vegetables.

Take a look at supplements like Missing Link Plus and Nupro(the one without yeast) both have probiotics and other ingredients that provide a range of vitamins, omega3 and trace minerals. Also, B-naturals (http://b-naturals.com/default.php) has a lot of info about supplements on their site.

[paulabeans]

Thanks so much fran and chris&eti :) I will definitely check out those sites!

I think that the Bravo rabbit has a very large percentage of bone in it because Molly's poops are hard and chalky/powdery. Does anyone know if too much bone is a problem??

Thanks again,
Paula

[gmacleod]

Hard stools that are chalky and turn to dust within a couple of days are *normal* for dogs fed on meats like chicken and rabbit (with bone). If stools are only "firm" then the diet is probably deficient in bone. LOL - small, hard, chalky stools are generally considered to be one of the major benefits to raw feeding ;) Not only does it keep the dog's anal glands working as they're designed to, it makes clean up rather a lot easier (something for everyone).

As for ratio of meat to bone... Well, 50/50 is what Billinghurst-style Barfers say is correct. Whether it is excessive or not is purely a matter of opinion.

Personally I feed somewhat more meat than that (plus there's the fat and offal content to consider), but it isn't an enormous amount more. Bones are, of themselves, extremely nutritious. They're far from just dried up sticks of calcium - they're nature's powerhouse of vitamin and mineral storage.

[paulabeans]

^ Thanks gwyn, thats great to know :)